Rail lubricator



April 17, 1934. L, s, ELMER 1,954,990

RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed Nov. 25. 1930 Patented aan. i7, 1era i gpggpgg@Unire eas 1,954,990 RAIL Lnnmoafroa Lewis s. Eimer, Baltimore, Ma.Application November 25, 1930, Serial No. 498,042 is claims. (c1. isi-3) My invention relates to improvements in railway rail to which it isfitted, and of the enclosway track rail lubricators and has particularrefing chamber shell, containing an electric heater. erence to devicesfor car Wheel actuated lubrica- Figure 2 is a sectional plan view, onthe line r tors for street railways, especially of the grooved 2 2 ofFigure 1, showing the arrangement of the type curved rail, but it isapplicable to other rails adjustable plunger nozzle head, the positionreand other locations. It may be applied to closely taining flexiblestops, retaining 'set screw, lateral paralleled T rails where one of therails is a check valve connections to auxiliary discharge guard, and thespace between the parallel rails heads when needed, and to the ductleading to the is filled with suitable material, so as to leave onlysource of lubricant supply. a groove between the heads of the rails.Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig- 85 My inventionembodies improvements develure 1. oped from the practical operation. ona railway, Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the plungerof alubricating device based upon the principles nozzle head, operatingthrough an opening in the of my invention of a rail lubricator for whichapgroove of a railway rail,V and of a lubricant ab- 15 plication forpatent was i'lled in the UnitedY States sorbent pad. 70 Patent Office onMarch 14th, 1930, Serial Number Figure 5 is a plan view of a thermalequalizing 435,861. member.

One of the objects of. my present invention is My improved lubricatorcomprises the plungerto provide a durable, adjustable, combined carnozzle dome-shaped head 1, provided with a wheel actuated reciprocatingplunger and lubrigroove 4:, a duct 6 terminating at lJS upper GX- 75cant discharge nozzle head, operating vertically tremiti in the mouth ororifice 5. The duct 6 is through a perforation in a groove of a railwayrail, usually concentric with the plunger until near' and a piston typelubricant pump, preferably lothe '50p 0I' dome 0f Same, when il? Sdeeted, cated between the guard rail flange and the foot usually at anangle so as to emerge at the side 2 flange of the said rail, the saidpump having an of the base of said domed part of said head and 80 intakeconnection to a lubricant tank or reservoir, in approximately thedirection of the passage of which may be located between the parallelrails an actuating car Wheel flange over it. The mouth of the sametrack, or in any other convenient po- 5 of the duct 6 opens verticallyon its inner side sition, and said reservoir may supply one or a and itsouter edge coincides with the adjacent 3 multiplicity of my lubricatingdevices and said vertical surface of the head member l. Thus the 35 pumphaving its vertical piston rod held conmouth 5 forms a suitable entrancefor a tool to centric with the rail perforation by the plunger be usedto rotate the plunger head 1, even though head. the dome portion of saidhead be lowered below A further object of my invention is to provide thesurface of the rail groove 11. The absorbent 30 means for easilyadjusting and retaining the dismember 7 may be applied to retain aportion of 90 charge nozzle in any desired direction. the lubricant,after each discharge of same from Another object is to provide means forself the plunger-nozzle and to later transfer this adjustment of thelength of the pump piston lubricant to other passing car wheel anges.stroke to compensate for changing degrees of The plunger-nozzle 1 movesreciprocally down- 49 iiuidity of the lubricant, coincident with changesward when depressed by a car wheel flange 9 of temperature. passing overit, and upward when released, With- Another object is to provide meansof uniformin the opening 1 of the rail flange 33 into the lydistributing the lubricant discharged, by a car rail groove 1l, theresilient member 27 of the p wheel actuated pump, to the groove surfacesof pump 3 being the actuating force to produce the 40 the raliway trackrail, especially throughout the upward motion thereof. m0 curvedportions thereof. The groove 4 of the plunger-nozzle head 1 is Anotherobject is to provide an electrically engaged by the key 13 to the collar12, so that the heated compartment enclosing the lubricantplunger-nozzle head rises and falls vertically in pump and supply toprevent congealing of the the position where held by the rotatablecollar 12. lubricant during Cold Weathel- The collar 12 having the key13 engaging the 05 I attain these objects by the mechanism illusgroove 4of the plunger-nozzle head 1 secures trated in the accompanying drawing,in which said head member from rotation while said collar like numeralsrefer to like parts, and in whichl2 is secured in a fixed position bythe set screw Figure 1 is an elevation of part and vertical 14 or by theresilient stop 16, thereby directing 5D section of part of thelubricator, and of the railthe mouth 5 of the duct 6 in a predetermined110 temperature, to maintain radial position, while the member 1 is freeto move reciprocally in a vertical direction.

The threaded connection 15, joining the plunger-nozzle head l to thehollow piston rod l8 having the discharge duct 6, leading from the pumpchamber 3 permits the plunger-nozzle member 1 to be adjusted upwardly ordownwardly when rotated by a suitable tool inserted through the mouth 5into the inclined portion of the duct 6. ThusV an upward adjustment ofthe head 1 permits a longer downward stroke when the head receives theimpulse from a passing car wheel flange, resulting in a greaterdisplacement of the lubricant contained within the pump chamber 3, and agreater quantity of lubricant discharged through the duct 6 and themouth 5, and conversely a rotation of the head 1 on the thread l5 in theopposite direction, correspondingly reduces the quantity of lubricantdischarged.

The thermal member 19, located beneath the collar 12, stops the upwardmovement of the piston 20.

The thermal member 19, comprises a suitable hollowmetallic ring-with itsdiameter in a horizontal plane, its interior and exterior verticalsurfaces being corrugated to form a series of hori- Zontal circularridges.y The ring 19, comprises a thin metallic shell filled withmercury or other suitable thermo-expandible substance, or the thermalmember 19, may comprise any suitable shape or material capable ofsufficient vertical expansion and contraction under influence oftemperature variations, so as to permit a longer or shorter pistonstroke and thereby an increased or decreased volume of lubricant to bepumped at each depression of the operating plunger 1. Thus astemperature changesl affect the fluidity of the lubricant simultaneouschanges in length of piston stroke effect compensation of the amount oflubricant discharged through the mouth 5, of the plunger-nozzle 1. Thespring 27, returns the piston and plunger to their normal elevatedpositions, after passage of the operating car wheel.

Attached to the lower side of the piston or plunger 20 is an extensionwhich supports the discharge valve 26 and carries the grooved slideguides 24 which slide over the projecting fixed guides 25 rigidlyattached to the body member or shell 21 of the pump, thus preventing therotation of the piston 2O about its axis and permitting the thread l5 tofunction in adjusting the rotatable head 1 as described. heretofore.

The pump body comprises a top section 22, having a suitable gasket 3'7to make a lubricant leak proof joint against the under side of the railflange member 33, with the plunger-nozzle l passing downwardly into themember 22 and thereby retaining the pump in position with relation tothe opening 1 of the rail 8.

The central pump member 21 is iirmly secured to the top section 22 andto the bottom section 23.

The bottom section 23 is further held in position with the base of therail 8, by set screws 29 and by the intake duct 31, which leads to a Ysuitable reservoir of lubricant.

The chamber 36 enclosing the lubricator within the upper and base orfoot flanges of the rail 8, contains the electric heater 35, of anysuitable type, for use during periods of low atmospheric the lubricantin a fluid or semi-fluid state.

The intake check valve 30 of the lubricator may have the lateral checkvalves and outlet ducts connected to any number of lubricators.

I claim:

1. rIhe combination of a chamber, having a girder track rail forming oneside thereof and containing within said chamber, an electric heater inproximity to a pump and to a duct, leading from a reservoir of suitablelubricant, to the intake valve of said pump; a pump directly operable by'an approximately vertical tubular plunger, comprising the dischargeduct of said pump; said plunger-discharge member having a combinedadjustable head and nozzle member protruding upward, through an orificeinto the bottom-of the groove member of said rail; said head capable ofbeing suitably directed and adjusted to cause the said pump to emit asuitable quantity of lubricant in a suitable direction into said railgroove and upon each car wheel flange, which depresses said plungerhead, thereby operating the deice.

2. A car wheel operable railway rail lubricator comprising a cylindricaldome-shaped plunger head having an internal passage for conveyinglubricant from a pumpito aport for said-head suitable to dischargelubricant into a rail groove for distributiony therein by the operatingcar wheel flange, said plunger head being in operable adjustableconnection through a vertical perforation of a rail groove by a threadednon-rotatable hollow piston rod with the lubricant pump mounted'beneaththe rail groove perforation, said port being suitable as a socket toreceive-a tool capable of quickly rotating the plunger head foradjustment of the volume of lubricant discharged from its port whenoperated by a man standing over the rail, a collar rotatably mountedwithin a recess of the upper portion of a lubricant pump housing andencircling the plunger head and loosely keyed to a vertical groovetherein so as to permit vertical movement of the plunger -to operateitheconnected pump and to prevent rrotation of the plunger head within thecollar, a Vresilient stop suitable to check rotation of the collar so asto direct the lubricant discharged from the port into the rail groove,and suitable connection of the pump with a source of lubricant supply.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, having a vertical expandiblethermostatic member with a central opening suitable to permit themovement of the pump piston rod and connected plunger head, saidthermostatic member suitably mounted to serve as a stop for the pumppiston when risingso that expansion of the thermostat downward willcheck the piston to reduce the volume of lubricant pumped andcontraction of the thermostat will increase the volume of lubricant ateach impulse.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, having thermostatic means of varyingthe volume of lubricant discharged into the rail groove as temperaturevaries the viscosity of the lubricant.

5. In a railway rail lubricator comprising a vertical piston type pumpsecured operably beneath a perforation of a rail groove and having anonrotatable hollow threaded piston rod and combined discharge duct, arotatable plunger head loosely threaded thereto, operable within a railgroove perforation by a car wheel flange, a duct within the plunger headconnecting the discharge duct of the pump with a port at the-side of thedome-shaped head of the plunger, a port in the plunger head suitable todischarge lubricant into a rail groove, and adapted to receive a toolfor rotatably adjusting the plunger head from above the rail surface,means of securing the plunger head from accidental rotation by theemployment of a vertical groove in the plunger head with a looselyfitted key therein, the key being rigidly attached to a collarsurrounding the plunger head, the collar being rotatably mounted withina recess of the pump housing and checked from rotation at apredetermined point by a resilient stop, means of supplying lubricant tothe pump, and resilient means of restoring that piston and plunger headto their normal elevated positions.

6. A car wheel operable railway rail lubricator comprising a cylindricaldome-shaped plunger head having an internal passage for lubricantdischarged from a pump, a port for the lubricant passage at the side ofthe dome of the head suitable to discharge lubricant into a rail grooveand adapted to receive a portion of a tool to manually rotate the headfrom above the rail as means of adjustment of the lubricant pump, saidplunger head having an internally threaded passage being in operablethreaded and adjustable connection through a vertical perforation of arail groove with a non-rotatable combined piston rod and dicharge ductof the lubricant pump, means of adjusting the pump by a collarencircling the plunger head and loosely keyed to a vertical groovetherein to permit vertical movement and to prevent rotation of theplunger head, said collar being rotatable within a circular recess of alubricant pump housing, a resilient stop suitable to check rotation ofthe collar at a predetermined point so that the port will dischargelubricant into the rail groove and prevent accidental rotation of theplunger head, and suitable means of securing the pump in operableposition beneath the perforation of the rail groove, means of supplyingthe pump with lubricant, and means of restoring the plunger head to itsnormal position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, having a thermostatic verticallyexpandible member lying immediately under the collar which surrounds theplunger head said thermostate being suitable to vary the volume oflubricant discharged from the pump by checking the pump piston atvarying points as the thermostat expands or contracts and thereby tocompensate for changing viscosity of the lubricant caused by changingtemperatures.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5 having a thermostat operable betweenthe pump piston and the collar surrounding the plunger head, and havinga central opening suitable to permit movement therein of the pumpplunger head and piston rod, and being adapted to check the pump pistonat various points, to thereby vary the volume of lubricant pumped and tocompensate for the changing viscosity of the lubricant, caused bychanging temperatures.

9. A car wheel actuated rail lubricating de- -vice comprising a verticalcylindrical plunger head having a dome shaped top protectively locatedbelow a rail tread and projecting through a perforation of a rail groovein position to be operated by a ange of a passing car wheel, said headhaving a port suitable to discharge lubricant into the rail groove andadapted to receive a tool for rotatably adjusting the plunger head fromabove the rail, means of securing the plunger head from accidentalrotation by the employment of a vertical groove in the plunger head witha loosely fitted key therein, the key being attached to a collarsurrounding the plunger head, the collar being rotatably mounted Withina recess of a pump housing and checked from rotation at a predeterminedpoint by a resilient stop,

said plunger Vhead having an internal lubricant passage from its port tothe discharge duct of the pump, means of adjusting the stroke of thepump by the plunger head being loosely and rotatably threaded to anon-rotatable hollow piston rod and combined discharge duct of the pump,said pump being secured beneath the rail perforation with the plungerhead assisting in retaining it in position, resilient means within thepump of restoring the plunger head to its normal position after eachoperation, and means of supplying lubricant to the pump.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 having a thermostat operable betweenthe piston of the pump and the collar surrounding the plunger head, saidthermostat having an opening .suitable to permit movement therein of thepump plunger head and piston rod, and being adapted to stop the risingof the pump piston at various points as changing temperatures causeexpansion or contraction of the said thermostat, thereby effectingcompensation of the volume of lubricant pumped by increasing ordecreasing the length of the stroke of the piston as changingtemperatures vary the viscosity of the lubricant,

l1. A car wheel actuated rail lubricating device comprising a verticalplunger head having a dome shaped top and an internal passage forlubricant discharged from a pump and having a port for the lubricantpassage at the side of the dome of the head, suitable to dischargelubricant into a rail groove and adapted to receive a tool to manuallyrotate the head from above the rail as a means of adjusting the strokeof the lubricant pump and thereby regulating the volume 1 of lubricantdischarged into the rail groove for distribution therein by passing carwheell flanges, the plunger head being in operable threaded andadjustable connection through a vertical perforation of a rail groovewith a non-rotatable 1 combined piston rod and discharge duct of thelubricant pump, a collar encircling the plunger head and loosely keyedto a longitudinal groove therein to permit reciprocating movement and toprevent rotation of the plunger head, said 1 collar being rotatablewithin a recess of the lubricating pump housing, a resilient stopsuitable to check rotation of the collar at a definite point to permitthe port of the plunger head to discharge lubricant into the rail grooveand to 1 prevent accidental rotation of the plunger head, the plungerhead being in position to be depressed by the ange of each passing carwheel but protectively located below the rail tread to avoidinterference of vehicular trailic, suitable 1 means of securing the pumpin operable position beneath the perforation of the rail groove andaligned therewith by the plunger head, means of supplying the pump withlubricant, and means of restoring the plunger head after each operaltion to its normal elevated position.

12. A railway rail lubricator comprising a cylindrical dome shapedplunger head being in po'- sition to be actuated by a passing car wheelange and having an internal passage for lubricant and l a port for thesame at the side of its dome and protectively located below the crownthereof being suitable to discharge lubricant into a rail groove andadapted to receive a tool to manually rotate the plunger head from meansof adjusting the stroke of lubricant pump, said plunger head being inoperable threaded and adjustable connection through a perforation of therail groove with a non-rotatable combined piston rod and discharge 1 aconnected above the rail as a duct f the Said pump, 2 Collar MOU-11d theplunger and discharge duct of a lubricant pump, said head and looselykeyed to a longitudinal groove. pump beingsecured in operable posi-tionbeneathV therein to permit reciprocal motion and to prea rail grooveperforation, a port for the plunger vent rotation of the head, thecollar being rohead duct at the side of the dome of the head 5 tatableWithin a rrecess of the lubricant pump suitable to discharge lubricantinto the groove of 80 housing, a resilient stop suitable to checkrotathe rail when the head is depressed by a passing tion of the collarat a iixed point so as to secure car Wheel flange, said port beingadapted to rethe port in a desired position. and to prevent acceive atool for rotatably adjusting the head and cidental rotation of theplunger head, means of thereby adjusting the stroke of the pump from locompensation for the varying volume of lubricant"`above the rail, meansof securing the plunger head 85 discharged as temperature changes affectthe from accidental rotation by the employment of VSCOS'Y thereof by theBmplOVment 0f a thermO- a Vertical groove in the plunger head with aloosestat interposed between the plunger head collar ly tted keytherein, the key being rigidly at# and the pump piston, means ofsecuring a suittached to a collar surrounding the plunger head l5 ablepump beneath arail perforation, in operable and the collar beingrotatably mounted Within 90 l position withV the plunger head, and meansof a recess of the pump housing and checked from supplying the pump Withlubricant. accidental rotation at a predetermined point by 13. A carWheel flange actuated rail lubricator a resilient stop, means ofsupplying lubricant to comprising a dome shaped plunger head operablethe pump, and means of restoring the plunger 2o through -a grooved railperforation and having a head to its normal position. 95 I threadedinternal lubricant duct adjustably and rotatably connected with anexternally threaded LEWIS S. ELMER;Av non-rotatable hollow combined pumppiston rod y y 13o 50 y i 135v

